Local builder named to national 40-under-40 list

CROSSVILLE – Isaac Zuercher, president and co-founder of Crossville-based Zurich Homes, was named to the 2014 Professional Builder “40 Under 40” list, an award given annually to recognize “the young superstars of homebuilding.” According to the magazine website, the list’s honorees “represent the next generation of leadership and innovation” in the field.

Zurich Homes is a design-build firm with the majority of new builds centered in and around Fairfield Glade. The company has also specialized in energy efficient building techniques that have differentiated it from many other firms in the area.

Along with his father, Stan, Isaac Zuercher established Zurich Homes in 2005 and has since constructed more than 50 homes in the area, even in the midst of the housing market downturn. According to Zuercher, a 2005 graduate of Tennessee Tech’s business management program, his team of seven employees has tailored its skills to meet the specific design needs of Fairfield Glade residents. The Zurich Homes office is located at 44 Peavine Plaza #104 in Crossville.

“I work with clients, designers and construction managers to ensure each project meets its full potential,” Zuercher said. “Added value through superior design is my goal for every client.”

Professional Builder, an award-winning magazine with a circulation of more than 125,000, has served builders, designers and trade partners across the country for 75 years.

Physician’s Urgent Care welcomes new NP

COOKEVILLE – Dr. P.K. Jain, M.D., and the staff at Physicians Urgent Care, Cookeville Medical Clinic and Cookeville Medical Center PC recently welcomed their newest nurse practitioner, Edith Ruchelle Steele, APN, ACNS-BC. Specializing in both urgent care and family medicine, including women’s health, weight loss, primary care and minor surgery, Steele is a Tennessee board certified nurse practitioner. She is welcoming new patients and most insurances in both Cookeville and Gainesboro locations.

Although she was born in Cleveland, Ohio, Steele was raised most of her life in Middle Tennessee. She has been in the medical field for more than 18 years with many years in cardiac and emergency medicine. She received her master’s in nursing at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., with her graduate studies consisting of adult acute care. Her goal was to contribute to the quality of life in the adult older population. Using a one- on-one approach, she aims to work with her patients on wellbeing and healthy lifestyle habits to help them feel and get better.

In her spare time, she is active at her church as a praise and worship leader. She is married and is a second-degree black belt. She has two sons.

Physicians Urgent Care, Cookeville Medical Clinic and Cookeville Medical Center PC offers two locations: 225 N. Willow Ave., Cookeville, and 402 E. Gore St., Gainesboro. For more information, call (931) 528-8899 or visit www.cookevillemed.com.

Sewell honored with green jacket at leader’s retreat

COOKEVILLE – Charles Sewell and Travis Giffey of Fidelis Financial Strategies in Cookeville recently traveled to a leader’s retreat in Carlsbad, Calif., that was sponsored by their broker dealer, FSC Securities Corp. Of approximately 1,400 advisors who are part of FSC Securities, only 117 individuals were invited to the retreat. At the event, Sewell was honored for his years of experience helping his clients achieve their financial goals and was presented a Master’s Club green jacket for his ongoing commitment to his clients.

Note: Securities offered through FSC Securities Corporation, member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory and insurance services offered through Compass Advisory Partners LLC, a registered investment advisor not affiliated with FSC Securities Corporation. Fidelis Financial Strategies is not affiliated with FSC Securities Corporation or registered as a broker/dealer or investment adviser.

Technology students to benefit from upcoming B2B networking event

CROSSVILLE – The Cumberland Business Incubator’s (CBI) technology training program will be the charitable recipient of donations made at the upcoming Business Cumberland B2B (business to business) networking event, set for 3-7 p.m. Tuesday, May 6, at Forte’s in downtown Crossville.

Donations will fund scholarships for technology training to teach website building, app development and software code writing in a number of different programming languages. The cost of the training is $25 per student per month. The technology training is available to anyone interested in learning these skills.

The Business Cumberland B2B event will allow business owners to meet other business professionals and potential customers/clients. Refreshments will be served and a cash bar will be available. Business Cumberland is a local advertising company promoting “preferred” businesses serving Cumberland and Putnam counties via expos, resource directories, e-newsletters, website and business-to-business events. “Preferred” businesses have provided evidence of satisfied customers. For more information on exhibiting at the event, contact Irene Blackburn at Irene@businesscumberland.com or call (931) 338-0751.

More information about the technology training program is available via Holly Hanson, CBI director, at hansonha@roanestate.edu or by calling (931) 456-4910.

Tax-deductible donations can be made to Roane State Community College Foundation – CBI Technology Training Program and mailed to the CBI at 259 Cook Road, Crossville, TN 38572.

Habitat Builders Blitz returns in June; labor and supply needs to be filled

COOKEVILLE – Local homebuilders are partnering with Putnam County Habitat for Humanity (PCHFH) this summer as part of Habitat’s Home Builders Blitz 2014.

During the week of June 9, the nationwide project seeks to build 300 homes with labor provided by local professional homebuilders and construction firms.

This year is the fourth national Home Builders Blitz. The idea began in 2002 in Raleigh, N.C., where 12 builders built 12 homes in one week. Subsequent national Home Builders Blitz events were held in 2006, 2008 and 2012. The event provides professional homebuilders the opportunity to use their skill and talents to address the growing need for low-income housing in communities nationwide.

This is the third Home Builders Blitz for PCHFH. One home will be built locally for Angela Carter, a local nursing student, and her 12-year-old son Carter, who suffers from cerebral palsy.

“This a great project that we look forward to, because it engages so many professionals in one quick week and generates much excitement,” said Pam Ealey, PCHFH executive director.

Seth Hudson of HD Homes will lead this year’s project.

“Our company participated in the 2012 Blitz, and I knew it was a project I wanted to help with again,” Hudson said. “I’m looking forward to working with the great members of our local building industry and see this family have a home that fits their needs, a real dream come true, in just one week.”

The build has a variety of labor and supply needs to be filled. For more information about the Home Builders Blitz, contact Ealey at (931) 528-1711.

UC tourism group teams up with Sparta trucking company to promote region through ‘moving billboards’

UPPER CUMBERLAND – The Upper Cumberland Tourism Association (UCTA) has added a “moving billboard” to its list of marketing materials.

The organization, which works to promote the region’s tourist attractions, recently teamed up with Sparta’s CB Trucking to place decals on the back of the company’s tractor-trailers.

CB Trucking, owned by Paul Bailey, has reach in the eastern and mid-eastern United States, and UCTA officials believe the decals will be a great marketing tool for the region – referring to the decals as “moving billboards.”

The decal invites viewers to follow them to Tennessee’s Upper Cumberland. It also has a map of the state of Tennessee with the Upper Cumberland area in red.

UCTA’s board of directors celebrated the inauguration of the moving billboards at CB Trucking in April 4.

Liz Engel is the editor of the Upper Cumberland Business Journal. She can be reached at liz@ucbjournal.com

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